Cleveland Browns just opened the bank in a big way for one of their own while sending mixed signals
The Browns just rewarded one of their own with a big chunk of cash in a new deal. However, Cleveland is sending mixed signals in the process.
The Cleveland Browns and Pro Bowl cornerback Denzel Ward have agreed to a significant contract extension as training camp gets underway. Ward, already under contract for two more seasons, receives a massive pay increase that makes him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL and ties him to Cleveland through the 2029 season.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the two-year, $62.2 million extension includes $52.3 million guaranteed. The deal gives the 29-year-old Ward $31.1 million per season, surpassing Los Angeles Rams cornerback Trent McDuffie’s $31 million annual average at the top of the position market.
Ward gets a massive pay bump from Cleveland
Prior to the extension, Ward was playing on the five-year, $100 million contract he signed for 2022-2027, which paid him an average of $20.1 million per year. The new deal represents a substantial raise for the Northeastern Ohio native, who has made five Pro Bowls during his time with the Browns.
Ward has been one of the most consistent cornerbacks in the league for Cleveland. He earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last three seasons and is coming off a campaign in which he played 15 games, recorded 39 tackles, broke up nine passes, and hauled in one interception. In the first seven seasons of his career, Ward recorded at least two interceptions with the Browns in each.
Browns send mixed signals with Ward extension
The extension is notable because of the mixed messaging it creates for Cleveland’s roster-building approach. The Browns just traded away franchise defensive end Myles Garrett, who was on a similar timeline as Ward in terms of age and production as a proven Pro Bowl veteran. Garrett’s trade signaled a potential pivot away from older, established stars. Locking Ward in through 2029 complicates that narrative.
While the Browns could still trade Ward in the future, his significantly increased salary makes that a much more difficult proposition. Cleveland will continue to build around its star cornerback even as it moves on from other veteran cornerstones. Another element is that Garrett wanted out, while Ward did not, of course.
A hometown hero stays home
For the former Ohio State Buckeye, the extension is a storybook development. Ward grew up in Northeastern Ohio, starred for the Buckeyes in Columbus, and is now set to spend potentially 12 seasons playing for the team closest to his hometown. That kind of career arc doesn’t come around often in today’s NFL landscape of constant player movement.
The Browns are betting that Ward can continue performing at a high level through his early 30s, and they’re paying him accordingly. Whether that investment pays off for a Cleveland franchise still searching for the right combination of veteran leadership and long-term roster construction remains to be seen.